Maltose (C12H22O11)

Maltose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) Maltose is made up of two a-D-glucose (in pyranose form) units held together by a(14) glycosidic bond. As there is a free aldehyde group at C-1 position of the second glucose molecule, maltose is known as reducing sugar. Maltose forms osazones. The enzyme that hydrolyses maltose is maltase.

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The structure of cellobiose, a disaccharide is similar to maltose. They differ in the glycosidic linkage. The linkage of cellobiose is b(14). Maltose is obtained by partial hydrolysis of starch by diastase an enzyme present in malt (sprouted barley seeds).